Why Run With Your Dog?

Personal training for dogs. You’re kidding, right? Actually, no, we’re not. Research suggests up to 40% of our dogs are overweight, and they suffer from the same health complications that overweight people do. Veterinarians (including myself) are becoming more and more concerned about the increase in joint pain, heart disease and other obesity related illnesses in dogs.
Hence, Pooch to 5k. Dogs can’t lift weights, or use the gym. If you’re going to increase their fat burning, you need to increase the intensity of their exercise. This means that a daily stroll just won’t cut it any more, it’s too laid back. The Pooch to 5k program will help you get your dog from doing nothing much to comfortably running 5km, over a period of 12 weeks.
Because you’ll be running with your dog, you’ll also get a great workout three times a week, as you train yourself to run 5km. Why not subscribe to our dog health and fitness newsletter and grab your dog, and you’re ready to go!

Run Down Under

Pooch to 5k is fielding a team in the Run Down Under.

This is a virtual fun run of 14 080km (8750 miles) which is the distance all the way around Australia. Measure all your runs or walks, no matter how small, and see how far you get around this great continent of ours. On the way, discover fun facts about the locations you “run” through and share your journey with other Pooch runners/walkers on our Facebook page. If you’re into blogging, you can also blog about your cyber-trip on a free Blogger blog.

Our goal with registering in this event is to encourage people to get active with their dogs, and develop a sense of community, cameraderie and fun along the way. We’ll be offering some prizes at the end of the year to those who are voted to have made a difference to their health and that of their dog through exercise, and been consistent in their training. This means that everyone is eligible, not just those who run longer distances. To be in the running for the prizes, you’ll need to blog, so we can see how you are going and cheer you on.

Registration in this virtual event costs A$55 and gives you a race running hat, event singlet, weekly updates and results, monthly prizes and competitions, memento’s every time you reach a major city (8 to collect in total on your journey Down Under), sponsors prizes and offers and even the opportunity to win $200 CASH as part of the Clubs Challenge.

In light of the fact that many of our followers are overseas, we have spoken to the race organisers and dog runners from outside of Australia are very welcome to participate. Your race singlet and hat will be posted to you no matter where you are.

How do you get involved?

1. Click on the logo above to register and when asked about a team, use the drop down menu to choose Pooch to 5k. Follow the prompts and you’re on board. Racing starts just after midnight (eastern daylight saving time) on the 1st January 2014.

2. If you’re keen to blog, you can learn how to set up your free Blogger blog here: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Blog-on-Blogger Wikihow also has tutorials on how to change the blog template, and add pictures and other links to your posts. Don’t forget to let us know the link to your blog via our Facebook page, so we can share it with other Pooch racers.

3. Start running when the clock ticks over to New Year’s Day here in Australia. Record all your runs, not just those with your dog, because they may not be up to running as often or as far as you are. It’s a long way around the Aussie coastline! Your runs will go towards your own individual total, but all Pooch runners will contribute to the team total for Pooch to 5k in the clubs challenge.

PS If you read the details about the team challenge on the Run Down Under webpage, you’ll see that when we get over 20 team members, there will be A$10 per person returned to the team. Any monies returned to the team will be used for the prize pool at the end of the year, and to help with postage of race kits to overseas participants.